Piñon Flats

This campground, in Great Sand Dunesnational Park and Preserve, has wild views of the park’s 30-square-mile dune field surrounded by high alpine scenery— especially if you nab a site on one of the outer loops. The Sangre de Cristowilderness Area is also just to the north. There are 88 sites for tents and RVS at Piñon Flats.

$20/night; reservations are recommended for Loop 2 at 877-444-6777 and www.recreation.gov. Campground is at the end of Colorado 150 in the park. Great Sand Dunes National Park, 719-378-6399, www.nps.gov/grsa.

Pawnee

Pawnee is the best campground for accessing the Indian Peakswilderness from the east side of the Continental Divide. It’s on the shore of Lake Brainard at 10,400 feet, in a jaw-drop-

$19/night; reservations at 877-4446777 and www.recreation.gov. From Ward, take County Road 102 west for 4.8 miles. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder District, 303-5412500, www.fs.usda.gov/arp.

Burro Bridge

North of Rico, Burro Bridge is waaaay out in the San Juannational Forest, an ideal base camp for exploring the Lizardheadwilderness and several fourteeners via thenavajo Lake trailhead. There are 13 sites for tents and RVS up to 40 feet, plus two equestrian sites with corrals.

$16/night, no reservations. From Dolores, take Colorado 145 north for about 13 miles, turn left on Forest Route 535/West Dolores Road. In 22.5 miles, stay right at the fork. San Juan National Forest, Dolores District, 970882-7296, www.fs.usda. gov/sanjuan.

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